Stoudemire not 100 percent but willing to return

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The good news was that Amar’e Stoudemire was on the practice court with the Knicks, banging with Kurt Thomas, spinning through teammates with flashes of his offensive abilities.

But the reality was that Stoudemire wasn’t feeling quite right. Still sore, not even 80 percent healthy by his own estimation as he works to return from left knee surgery to make his season debut, Stoudemire provided a bit of concern as he pointed to a comeback even though he may not be ready.

"I’m not quite there yet," Stoudemire said. "But we’re pretty banged up as a team. We need bodies on the floor right now, so if I’ve got to sacrifice my health a little bit for the betterment of the team then I will."

It’s easy to see why Stoudemire was considering skipping the last steps of his rehabilitation as Carmelo Anthony was shooting alone on one basket, still hobbled by the hyperextended left knee he suffered Christmas Day. Iman Shumpert was shooting on another basket, still not close to his own start to the season.

And Tyson Chandler, Rasheed Wallace and Jason Kidd did not practice Sunday — although Chandler (sprained right ankle) and Kidd (recovery day) are expected back Tuesday against Portland. Raymond Felton, with a fractured pinkie, is expected to miss four to six weeks.

So Stoudemire said he would help if he can, but the Knicks are aware that rushing him back might not be the proper move for the long run.

"I mean we’ve taken some hits injury-wise but again, it’s a part of a season," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "All teams go through it. And he’s been out a while and I know he’s chomping at the bit to get back, but again we’ve got to be cautious this is just 30 games we put in. It’s a good 30 games for our ball club and our organization and for our fans but we still have a long way to go.

"It’s going to be up to him and the medical. I don’t know if he’ll ever be 100 percent. You think about that, when you go through something like that. I don’t know if you could ever get back to 100 percent, but just having him back in uniform and on the floor ready to play is a plus when that time comes."

Stoudemire, in the third year of his five-year, $100 million deal, worked hard after struggling through injuries last season and came into camp in what he said was the best shape of his life. But after appearing in just one preseason game, he suffered a ruptured popliteal cyst and underwent debridement surgery to clean up the knee.

The Knicks have played well without him, posting a 21-9 record, but with so many banged-up pieces, the need has grown even greater for Stoudemire to return.

"It would be great if I could go on [Tuesday]," he said. "I can’t determine how I feel [today] or the following day. If the next two days go well and I continue to improve, then that will be a great day to start playing.

"I can do pretty much anything, but it just feels sore when I make certain moves. I don’t want to have that feeling because that forces me to overcompensate. I don’t want to have that problem because that has a risk of injury when you overcompensate."

BRIEFS: Shumpert did practice lightly with the team before contact drills. ... Woodson said he did not know Wallace’s status — other than day to day.